Joshua Kellam stresses importance of ballot initiative protecting Floridians’ right to hunt, fish

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A newly proposed ballot amendment initiative aims to protect Floridians’ right to fish and hunt by locking it into the state’s constitution.

The campaign is called “YES ON 2.” The chairman of the campaign and a former commissioner of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Joshua Kellam, said the campaign is meant to “promote and help pass amendment 2,” which will be on the ballot in November.

He said the fishing and hunting is “our God given right” and has been “under attack across the country.”

“There’s been a push across the country for additional restrictions on fishing and hunting in a number of states,” Kellam said. “Florida was a target, and we wanted to make sure that we got to got ahead of it before really strong activist groups started to ramp up their efforts.”

The joint resolution previously passed with bipartisan support through the Florida Legislature 154-1. Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Davie, was the only lawmaker to vote against it.

“We have extremely strong support for this amendment, and so I don’t know why somebody would vote against this,” Kellam said. “It really is protection of rights. And I think that we clearly have strong bipartisan support in protecting our rights, and especially our God given rights.”

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson donated $100,000 to the campaign this week.

“Fishing and hunting are inextricably linked to our economy, our lifestyle and the conservation of our land here in Florida,” Simpson said.

Amendments need 60% to pass in Florida.